When we called Nikhil Korula from the Nikhil Korula Band and asked if he'd do an acoustic performance for Tap Milwaukee at Summerfest, he had to make a few calls, and essentially forced his band to rent a car at O'Hare to drive to the gig, instead of picking them up as planned.

Sorry about that guys -- but hey, we're all the richer for this lovely performance of his new song "Broken Roads" performed lakeside, from his new EP "Solo Sessions." | June 26, 2013»Read Full Blog Post

Power pop, pop rock: Call it whatever you like, but the subgenre — defined loosely by pretty melodies, gorgeous harmonies and (mostly) electric guitars — has rarely gotten as much critical or commercial respect as it merits. The Melismatics, however, respect it and play it well.

"We're in that world, and that's something I'm proud of," primary songwriter, singer and guitarist Ryan Smith said in a phone interview before the band's show at Summerfest. "I love the whole tradition going back to Big Star, which obviously never sold many records in its day but established a legacy. It's a cool lineage." | June 26, 2013»Read Full Article

On Wednesday, Summerfest volunteers were giving away wristbands offering free access to the Violent Femmes and Avett Brothers show headlining the Marcus Amphitheater at 7 p.m.

A volunteer said they had about 1,500 wristbands available on a first-come, first-served basis to those on the grounds. He said the bands make individiual decisions to offer the wristbands from time to time during Summerfest. | June 26, 2013»Read Full Article

They're three bands with vastly different experiences. One has rubbed elbows with Lionel Richie and Toby Keith. Another is a young, aggressive, self-promoting road warrior. The third has struggled to rise to bigger gigs in the Milwaukee music scene.

With a diverse, sometimes even daring performing arts season planned for 2013-'14, the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center backs up the notion that it's cooler near the south shore of the lake, too.

When I talked to Kip Moore ahead of his headlining set at Summerfest's Briggs and Stratton Big Backyard tonight, he had a lot more to say than would fit in this Tap Milwaukee feature.

So, here's more from the country artist on his approach to songwriting (in addition to his own richly detailed songs, he's written for the likes of Thompson Square and James Wesley), what he learned from being part of big tours like last fall's Eric Church arena outing (read my review of that tour's Bradley Center stop here) and how work on his second album is different - and much more fun - than his best-selling debut, "Up All Night." | June 26, 2013»Read Full Blog Post

Vintage samples have been a trademark for Pretty Lights' sound, a trippy, often chill and pretty mashup of hip-hop, soul and electronic dance music created by 33-year-old Colorado native Derek Vincent Smith.

Pretty Lights' forthcoming album, "A Color Map of the Sun," is due July 2, just three days after its Saturday Summerfest performance at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse. This might be its most sonically complex tapestry of sounds yet, from the washed-out soul horns atop fuzzy synths, percussive thumps and vintage soul vocals on "Color of My Soul," to the dreamy funk grooving and dusty harmonica on the single "Around the Block," featuring fellow Summerfest headliner Talib Kweli (who performs at 10 p.m. Thursday at the Roadhouse). | June 26, 2013»Read Full Article

Wednesday, June 26

Something known: The Avett Brothers (7 p.m. Marcus Amphitheater). The Americana outfit went full-blown pop on last year's captivating "The Carpenter." It's the band's strongest album and the finest release of 2012. | June 26, 2013»Read Full Article(2)

While three of four Milwaukee stations switched to network coverage of the Supreme Court ruling striking down the Defense of Marriage Act, WTMJ-TV (Channel 4) stayed with its regular programming.

Instead of breaking in with NBC coverage of the historic ruling, WTMJ's "The Morning Blend" was offering among other things -- according to its website -- cooking tips from the Machine Shed. | June 26, 2013»Read Full Blog Post(2)

"I've always been a greater reader than a writer," says Jorge Luis Borges in "The Last Interview and Other Conversations." While devoted readers of the Argentinian writer may disagree, Borges (1899-1986) was one of the most bookish great writers of our age, an enthusiastic champion of other authors, from the obscure Thomas Browne to the towering Miguel de Cervantes.

Melville House has collected three interviews with Borges in this volume, the latest in a series that also includes Kurt Vonnegut, Roberto Bolaño, Jacques Derrida and David Foster Wallace. Both Borges fans and newbies will glean plenty of suggestions for reading, or rereading, from these talks. | June 26, 2013»Read Full Article

It's opening day for Summerfest. While Piet Levy, our music writer, has had bylines with us for ages, this is his first Summerfest as full-time staff, so you can expect his not inconsiderable energies (along with some other great writers) to transform our coverage of the Big Gig this year.